Pain

Due to the lack of dreams, she experienced a lightness and a blank state of mind. She was ecstatic about that. After what had transpired that had knocked her out cold, she didn't want to dream.

Her brightly flashing wide eyes fluttered as they reflected the room's brightness. It was dawn. She had actually stayed in Celestia for an entire night, and instead of killing the Alpha heir, she had been kissed by him.

She instinctively pressed her fingers to her lips, her eyes widened, and she quickly sat down to glance around the large, expensive room—which was empty of him.

"Did he have to give his blood to me through his mouth?" Ophelia moaned and ran her fingers through her hair. She forced herself out of bed and spread her arms out to get some relief from the little aches she was experiencing.

She was still wearing the dress, which still had dried blood flecks on it. Although she felt immensely revolting, she also felt incredibly alive and energized. Of course, she would depart Celestia using what energy she had. In all honesty, she had no intention of returning to Fireria or of staying with a psychotic prince.

Her gaze lingered and eventually came upon a thick curtain made of black beads. Gothic. Her legs began to move in that direction, but as she neared, she sensed a presence behind the curtain. She halted her steps and watched Nikolai emerge from the curtains with an expressionless face, but as soon as his eyes met hers, a ghostly smile danced on his delicious lips.

He was dressed in a loose-fitting black robe, with damp hair hanging down at his back and some covering his eyes and forehead but not the fiery scarlet color of his eyes. He was an exceptionally attractive creature.

"I was just about to wake you up."

Ophelia was surprised. She was in a room with a male, and he didn't even take her to the bathroom or take off her clothes without asking her first. He was... Amazing.

"I got myself out of bed." Ophelia remarked, averting her gaze, "I am alive after all." She felt embarrassed. He had literally kissed her! She wanted to scream, yet strangely, the mere sight of him made her body warm.

"Of course you are still alive."

"Fuck that!" She yelled, casting a critical yet irate look at him. "Why did you have to kiss me?"

"Kiss?"

Ophelia scowled. "You are deaf, which I forgot. What a moron! You could've just dripped your blood into a cup or whatever!"

"But you wouldn't have taken it that way." He said, while clicking his tongue and grinning cunningly. "Truth be told, that wasn't a kiss fire storm,"

"Shut the friggin hell up! You're a real pain in the neck."

"And you believe you're not?"

Ophelia forced a hard swallow, but she was able to keep a solid demeanor to intimidate him. She wished to enrage him into letting her go. She had a strong sense that it wouldn't work, but she needed to hold onto hope, right?

She sputtered, "I'm not."

"You didn't push me away, did you?"

Ophelia snorted. Why didn't she do it? She wasn't sure if she wanted to leave or if she just liked how soft and seductive his lips were. Her head was whirling!

"I.. I. Couldn't." She stumbled and retreated a step. "Don't come closer! Don't touch me! Also, don't talk to me! Leave me alone! You are an absolute headache." She rambled at him while wildly swinging her hands.

Blinking, Nikolai's countenance changed and his smile disappeared. "You certainly enjoy cursing." He approached her and took a step closer as his voice grew deeper than it already was.

Standing where she was, Ophelia sighed. "Why did you feel the need to kiss me?" As he leaned his face near to hers, her voice and face filled with frustration.

"Because it was done in an erotic way and I wanted to know what kind of effect you have on me." Her pulse skipped a beat as Nikolai responded, his voice resonant with need.

She was certain that if it went on, she would suffer a heart attack.

"What kind of effect do I have on you?"

Nikolai chuckled haltingly.

She was quite cute. She worked so hard to make him despise her, but it was impossible. She was too special and difficult to let go of.

"Firestorm,"

"Lai Lai," Both her voice and face possessed firmness. He snorted.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

He gave her a harsh look, which caused her to smile teasingly in response.

"I need food and fresh clothes. specifically, pants." She said as she prodded his forehead. In all honesty, Ophelia was apprehensive about her effect on him. If she knew, she wouldn't be able to resist him.

With his head cocked to the side, Nikolai grabbed her wrist. "Won't you offer an apology?"

"Aren't you going to tell me why I haven't seen a servant in here?" He was a prince. The sole offspring of the Alpha and the Luna. His baths were supposed to be prepared by maids, but Ophelia was confident that she would be able to tell if a servant entered the chamber even if she was sound asleep.

"My room is off limits. Only mother, occasionally." With a curt reply, Nikolai let go of her wrist.

Ophelia thought it was strange but refrained from asking any further questions.

"Did you eat the food?" She rubbed her wrist as she asked. His touch was scalding.

"I didn't know you'd pass out, and I don't like food going to waste, so I just gave it to Pain." Once more, Nikolai responded, his tone curt. Unfortunately, Ophelia found his words totally ludicrous.

"Oh, well, that's good to know." She bypassed him to enter the bathroom as it was so awkward for both of them.

She focused on the sizable bathtub that was filled with hot, bubbling water. In reality, he had already prepared a bath for her following his. Was his generosity authentic in the way he claimed?

She wasn't confident that the doubts would disappear any time soon.

She relaxed with a sigh as she breathed in the bath room's wonderful mint aroma. She was going to take a nice, relaxing hot bath.

...

When he heard the sound of the curtain's rattling beads, Nikolai grinned and got dressed casually, putting a black cloak over his shoulders. He then took long, carefree steps toward the door, slowly opened it, and then left, closing it behind him.

"You did a wonderful job guarding last night. You will get a treat," He paused and turned to gaze at his side, where he saw a large white phoenix tiger staring at him incomprehensibly. "You will get a treat. That stare makes no promises." Nikolai scowled.

The tiger phoenix had flaming red stripes that started at the base of his neck and ended at the ends of his wings on his back. His eyes were a striking forest green color.

The only name Nikolai could come up with for the tiger phoenix was Pain since it was all he could think of. Pain.